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  Waste treatment methodUSPTO Application #: 20060186042Title: Waste treatment method Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for treating domestic and industrial biological waste using diffusers to force circulation and aerate a treatment lagoon. Several lagoons may be used in series to treat raw waste and different variations may be employed to stepwise process the waste. A blend of aerobic and anaerobic microbes is chosen to remove undesired species initially present in the waste or later formed therein, as well as to process the waste itself, depending on the nature of the waste. Aeration with slightly ozonated or oxygenated air facilitates rapid and complete processing of large amounts of waste. (end of abstract)
Agent: Cochran Freund & Young LLC - Fort Collins, CO, US Inventor: Jimmie A. Keeton USPTO Applicaton #: 20060186042 - Class: 210628000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Liquid Purification Or Separation, Processes, Treatment By Living Organism, Aerobic Treatment, Recirculating To Prior Step, Of Sludge Or Separated Solid, To Mainstream Oxygenation (e.g., Activated Sludge, Etc.), The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060186042. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/205,434, for "Waste Stream Digestion Method," filed on Aug. 16, 2005 by Jimmie A. Keeton, Jr., which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/824,176 for "Waste Stream Digestion Method," filed on Apr. 13, 2004 by Jimmie A. Keeton, Jr., now U.S. Pat. No. 6,929,746 which is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/265,518, entitled "Waste Stream Digestion System," filed Oct. 3, 2002 by Jimmie A. Keeton, Jr., now U.S. Pat. No. 6,743,357, which was based upon and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/327,101 entitled "Waste Stream Digestion System," filed on Oct. 3, 2001 by Jimmie A. Keeton, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference for all it discloses and teaches. FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates generally to waste treatment and, more specifically, to waste processing using aeration and microbes. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Anaerobic animal waste treatment systems are generally characterized by systems with liners or covered lagoons designed to mitigate smell and odor problems. Other systems include large biogas digesters. Anaerobic processes are very slow and rely on microbial decomposition reactions and processes that break down waste with no oxygen present. In addition, the anaerobic processes generate strong, unpleasant odors. Due to the slow process of digestion, there may be a rapid buildup of solids in the digestion ponds that must be removed and disposed of later. Further, anaerobic digestion does not remove salt content from runoff water. [0004] Anaerobic systems are expensive to construct and may require a large capital investment to treat the effluent from a typical dairy or other farm operation. Often, covers are fitted to an anaerobic lagoon to capture and dispose of odorous gases such as H.sub.2S and ammonia. Such covers are expensive and require periodic maintenance. [0005] It would therefore be valuable to provide a system and method for processing waste quickly and efficiently, with a minimum of odor and as completely as possible. Further, it would be valuable to be able to process solid waste quickly enough that solid waste does not build up. Further, it would be valuable to provide a system and method that minimizes both the capital and recurring costs. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The present invention overcomes the disadvantages and limitations of the prior art by providing an aeration system coupled with a specific regimen of microbes that efficiently and effectively break down solid and liquid waste. The aeration system may function by aerating the waste from the bottom using a laminar column of fine bubbles to most efficiently circulate the waste and to maximize the oxygen transfer. The aeration system may further comprise an ozone generator and/or an oxygen generator to increase the oxygen transfer to the liquid. [0007] Additionally, circulators in a lagoon may further enhance the movement of the effluent in a horizontal fashion. Such circulation prevents solids from collecting in various areas of a lagoon and maximizes the decomposition of solid matter. [0008] Specialized microbes are added to the water that efficiently and effectively decompose the waste matter, and remove targeted undesirable species such as nitrates or phosphates, as examples, depending on the microbes introduced. The microbes are a blend of aerobic and facultative anaerobic microbes. Additionally, a blend of enzymes is added that increase the digestion rates of the waste matter. [0009] The present invention may therefore include a method for treating biological waste containing at least one target species for removal or conversion into another species, comprising: introducing the waste into a lagoon; adding to the lagoon at least one microbe effective for converting the at least one target species to at least one other species; and aerating the lagoon with a plurality of aerators located on the bottom of the lagoon, the aerators being adapted to produce a laminar column of bubbles. [0010] The present invention may further include a method for treating biological waste containing at least one target species for removal or conversion into another species, comprising: introducing the waste into a first water filled lagoon; adding to the first water filled lagoon at least one microbe effective for converting the at least one target species in the waste to at least one other species; aerating the first water filled lagoon with a plurality of aerators dispersed on the bottom of the first water filled lagoon, the aerators being adapted to produce a laminar column of bubbles and being supplied by a first compressed air supply; circulating the first water filled lagoon with at least one circulator adapted to cause the first water filled lagoon to circulate; sending a portion of the water filled lagoon to a second water filled lagoon; aerating the second water filled lagoon with a plurality of aerators dispersed on the bottom of the second water filled lagoon, the aerators being supplied by a second compressed air supply; and circulating the second water filled lagoon with at least one circulator adapted to cause the second water filled lagoon to circulate. [0011] Benefits and advantages of the present invention include, but are not limited to, that a substantially smaller amount of energy is required to decompose solid biological wastes than with existing systems, due to the laminar flow diffusers, the large degree of circulation, and the selection of specific microbes. Further, the present invention has the ability to completely decompose solid wastes to the point that solid waste build up in the lagoons is virtually eliminated. Any solids left in the effluent after processing are held in suspension and may deliver nutrients when used as fertilizer. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0012] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of the specification, illustrate several embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings: [0013] FIG. 1 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention comprising a two-lagoon digestion system. [0014] FIG. 2 is an illustration a cross-section of a typical lagoon of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 1. [0015] FIG. 3 is an illustration of a top view of an embodiment of the present invention wherein four circular lagoons are used in series to treat effluent. [0016] FIG. 4 is an illustration of a top view of lagoon of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3 showing the aeration system. [0017] FIG. 5 is an illustration of a section view of a lagoon of the embodiment of the present invention of FIG. 3. [0018] FIG. 6 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention comprising three lagoons. [0019] FIG. 7 is an illustration of an embodiment of the present invention comprising two long, narrow lagoons. Continue reading... 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